Now Plant Enzymes - 120 V-Caps

NOW PLANT ENZYMES provide a comprehensive blend of vegetarian enzymes active in a broad pH range to aid in food digestion. Protease breaks down protein, Amylase breaks down starch, Lipase breaks down fat. Cellulase breaks down fiber, and Lactase breaks down lactose (milk sugar). Papain and bromelain are primarily protein digesting enzymes.

What are Enzymes?

Enzymes are catalysts of chemical reactions. This means that they initiate and increase the rate of one or several body processes. Without enzymes, reactions in the body would take place too slowly to maintain life. Digestive enzymes are responsible for breaking down food particles so that they can be absorbed in the intestinal tract and either used for energy or stored for later use.

There are three main categories of digestive enzymes, amylase, protease and lipase. Amylase enzymes digest sugars, for example, like milk sugar is digested by lactase and cane sugar by sucrase. Amylase is found in saliva, pancreatic juice and intestinal juice. Proteases are responsible for breaking down protein. It is found in intestinal and pancreatic juice. Lipases digest fat and are released in the stomach and intestines.

You Can Support DIGESTIVE HEALTH By:

• Chewing food completely.


• Eating several small meals daily instead of three large meals


• Avoiding fluids with meals.


• Eating a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables.


• Avoiding refined, processed foods.


• Not overeating; eat until 80% full.


• Taking a HCL supplement before meals.


• Supplementing with Probiotics.


• Taking digestive enzyme during or after meals.

Intestinal Health

The intestine is the main absorptive area of the digestive tract. It is essentially a tube with a thin mucosal lining and lots of blood vessels on the inside and muscles around the outside. It has its own immune tissue called GALT, or gut associated lymphoid tissue. The inner lining is filled with little fingers, or projection of the mucosa, which greatly increases its absorptive surface.

Lying on the membrane are many friendly organisms, which help our body with the digestive process. The small intestine attaches to the stomach. Near it's beginning, ducts from the liver and pancreas release digestive juices. These juices mix with the partially digested food from the stomach and continue the digestive process. Nutrients are absorbed through the thin intestinal wall and transported via the bloodstream, to where they are needed. The liver also excretes processed toxins and fats through the bile. These substances must be carried through the intestine without being absorbed.

The remainder of the food is pushed through into the large intestine. The main function of the large intestine is the preparation of stool for excretion. In order to do this the digested food must be dehydrated and compacted. The last bit of nutrients may also be absorbed here.

Some of the most important players in intestinal health are not part of our own body. Friendly intestinal bacteria, often called probiotics, are an essential part of digestion. They break down food particles, manufacture vitamins and prevent the infection of the tract with other microbes. Each bowel movement actually contains millions of these friendly bacteria; they are in a constant state of renewal. Many concerns likei ndigestion, gas, bloating and constipationcan be due to an imbalance of the intestinal bacteria. It is easy to upset this balance by improper diet or taking medications like antibiotics.